Cover Letter Ps Examples Of Adverbs

One of the distinctions of effective writers is their facility with active verbs. Active verbs carry analytical meaning with efficiency, and when selectively applied to a student’s accomplishments, simplify the goal of categorizing and interpreting the kinds of merits that a student has accrued. They can also help present a student as positive and energetic, admired and respected, mature and serious. In these excerpts from sample letters in Chapter 5, note how the active verbs are used creatively and repeatedly to uplift the student:

Although Janet struggled to see her own potential earlier in her college career, encouragement from her advisor as well as her labmates, coupled with her own growing desire to succeed, transformed this once tentative student into an important contributor to the lab.

Mr. Lerner challenged his class to find multiple ways to make a bulb light using only one battery, one bulb, and one wire.

She developed a solution, built the necessary coalition, developed creative compromises, and worked through to the proposal’s enactment.

For a partial list of some of the active verbs most commonly and effectively used in recommendation letters, consult the list below.

Comprehensive list of resume buzzwords to use, and how to use them.

This is one of two articles dealing with buzz words. You may want to also read, Buzz Words on a Resume: Why They’re Important

Apparently we are all still searching for the magic buzzwords to use on our résumés, thus today’s blog post is all about the magic buzz words most people are using, buzz words not to use, and why the choice of buzzwords is so critical.

Notice that I said “buzz words” or “buzzwords” 4 times in one sentence? While I typically wouldn’t write with such redundancy, it seems that search engines like us to break a basic rule of writing — thus, I do so. And, I’ve allowed for the both spellings: buzz words, or buzzwords, both of which are correct. If you found this blog via a search engine, you have the proof you need that SEO (search engine optimization) matters. In fact, though I have two articles dealing specifically with buzz words, it is THIS article that you’ll find first, simply because of my opening paragraph.

Which leads to our first point:

In many instances, computers search your résumé. It’s known as “ATS” and you can learn more, here. Résumés need to be loaded with the right buzz words.

I’ve written about the specifics of ATS, and won’t repeat it now. But if you’re not familiar with how computers read your résumé, I suggest that you might also want to read an earlier article on the topic.

GRAMMAR SCHOOL LESSON

Remember back in grammar school when you first learned about nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs? Here is a reminder: Nouns, we learned, are used to describe a “person, place, or thing.” Adjectives describe a noun. Verbs are “action words.” Adverbs describe verbs.

The nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs you use in your résumé make up those all- important buzz words that are intended to describe your skill set and achievements, and capture the attention of a computer or human.

NOUNS — Person, Place, Thing

Here is a list of common nouns found in a résumé. Notice that many of them will differ, depending on your industry:

Common Resume Buzz Words – Nouns

ADJECTIVES — descriptive words that tell us more about the noun

It is the adjectives that “fluff up” a résumé. Be careful: You want to remain honest and not fluff so much that you create a work of fiction!

Resume’ Buzz Words – Adjectives

As I said, use adjectives carefully, honestly, and sparingly. If your résumé is overly peppered with these descriptive buzz words, you lose credibility. If you are not genuinely “meticulous,” for example, choose another word.

VERBS — the ‘action’ words

An action word is one that does something. For example, sang is the verb in “The girl sang.” It tells what the noun (the girl) did or is doing.In my opinion, the verbs in a résumé are the most important descriptors.

It is the use of the verb that hopefully provides an accurate description of your achievements. More than anything, employers are looking for your achievements. They want to know what you have done, what actions you have taken. That falls squarely into the world of verbs.

What follows is an exhaustive list of these important verbs, words considered by many as “résumé buzz words.” Notice that nearly every word has the “ed” suffix. I’ve listed the verb in its proper tense for use in most résumés:

Verbs — Resume Buzz Words (A-O)

ADVERBS: The verb, described:

Like adjectives, use adverbs sparingly. Be honest, accurate, and selective. I personally have only two adverbs in my résumé. Here is a list of the most frequently used adverbs:

Adverbs — Resume Buzz Words

COMBINING BUZZ WORDS ON YOUR RESUME

Which words you choose and how you combine those words is uniquely up to you. And if I’ve not yet gotten it through to you, let me repeat: Be honest. Don’t over fluff your stuff!

Let’s first combine a few adjectives and nouns:

experienced executive

skillful litigator

proficient orator

successful author

proven leader

talented negotiator

effective communicator

detailed researcher

Now, let’s combine a few verbs and adverbs:

succinctly demonstrated

quickly revealed

creatively reconfigured

dramatically improved

significantly increased

reliably calculated

progressively strengthened

WORDS NOT TO USE IN YOUR RESUME:

Google reports that many of you search for the phrase, “Buzz words not to use on resume’.” In my opinion, the use of “buzz words” applies only to words that we should use, not words that are best left in a bar or in a piece of fiction writing.

In general, it is how a word is used that matters most, as opposed to a succinct list of words not to use. For example, while there is nothing wrong with any of the following words, per se, the way they are used could be problematic:

experience, environment, team, leadership, professional, proven

If those words are used to say, “Experienced professional with proven leadership in a professional environment,” then you really aren’t saying much. Instead, provide a concrete example:

Provided 10+ years successful team leadership with 20 subordinates, a zero attrition rate, and 80% customer satisfaction at a Fortune 100 company.

Yet you still seek a concrete list of words you should not use. I know… I know. So here is the best I can do for you:

A résumé is about accomplishments, not duties. Thus, only use the following when you don’t yet have work achievements (as in the case of students who are just starting out in their careers):

responsibilities included

duties included

responsible for

Here are a few more no-no’s:

use of first person – “I” — as in, “I was the employee of the month.”

use of “References Available Upon Request“

use of the word “assisted” unless there is no other option. Focus on your achievement(s) as they relate to your assistance to someone else, and specify it on your résumé.

use of the word “seasoned“, as in “seasoned professional.” This ages you. Use “experienced” instead.

Write in third-person, not first, using phrases, not full sentences: “Founded successful program for disadvantaged youth,” rather than “I am the founder of a program for disadvantaged youth that was highly successful.”

DO use the buzz words you find in the job description.

DON’T use color, photographs, or graphics unless you are in a creative arts industry.

DO balance the white space in your document, and use 12pt font if possible. (I use an 11pt for substantive text, and a 12pt for headings, with a “left justified” margin, not “full justification” which reads oddly in many cases.)

Order your résumé in the most commonly accepted format, or a close variation:

Heading

name

address or city and state

phone numbers

email address

Career Objective

You do not need to place a heading above your career objective. Just state the objective

Use either paragraph or bullet format.

Education

Reverse chronological order

Degree obtained

Name of institution

Relevant or notable activities

Dates of attendance (or years only, for “mature’ applicant)

Skills / Achievements

bullet list format

include your most notable achievements, including percentages & dollar amounts when possible

include only your most relevant skills (after achievements)

dates and information like company name are not needed here; it’s just a summary of your most notable achievements

Some jobs benefit from this added section. Only include what is relevant to the position you seek, like …

the type of software you can use, and your proficiency level

the types of equipment you can operate, and your proficiency level

languages you speak, and your proficiency level

personal attributes that are directly relevant (i.e., “confident public speaker”)

Notice that there is not a heading for “References” or for “Hobbies”. Do not include them in your résumé, nor should you include a statement that “References will be provided upon request.” That’s old school and will date you, showing that you’ve not taken the time to research current standards for résumés.

A CAVEAT

Having said all of this, I will remind my regular readers — and point out to my new or visiting readers — that there are exceptions to every rule. For a good example of how someone “got the job” breaking nearly every rule, you might want to read this article.

If you would like an evaluation of your résumé, I will provide you with a free critique! But, make sure you’ve first followed the rules of résumé writing and prepared the best document you can prepare. And, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FIRST.

~Lynda C. Watts

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